Marquesas Islands

The Marquesas Islands, not to be confused with the Marquesas Keys of Florida, are a group of islands in French Polynesia. In French they are known as the Îles Marquises or Archipel des Marquises or Marquises, and in Marquesan they are known variously as Te Henua (K)enana (North Marquesan) and Te Fenua `Enata (South Marquesan), which means "The Land of Men". (See also: Names of the Marquesas Islands.)

Geology of the Marquesas

With the exception of Motu One, all of the Marquesas Islands are high islands. Motu One is a low island, comprised of two small sand banks awash on a coral reef. Unlike the majority of the islands of French Polynesia, the Marquesas are not surrounded by protective fringing reefs. Except for at Motu One, and in bays and other protected areas, the only coral in the Marquesas is found in a rather strange place: on the top of the island of Fatu Huku.

Related Topics:
Motu One - Marquesas Islands - High island - Low island - Sand bank - Coral - Reef - Fatu Huku

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The South Equatorial Current lashes the islands mercilessly, which has led to sea-caves dotting the islands' shores. Except for where the valleys empty into the small bays, the islands are remarkable for their mountain ridges, which end abruptly as cliffs where they meet the sea.

Related Topics:
South Equatorial Current - Sea-cave

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See related article: Marquesas geology

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